Self Portrait as a Dead Christ, Supposed Self Portrait 1503

Albrecht Dürer made this drawing, perhaps in 1503, of a face framed by a crown of thorns. The composition and title prompt us to consider how Dürer, a Northern European artist, saw himself in relation to a very specific image of Christ, whose image had become ubiquitous in European culture by the 16th century. This image creates meaning through visual codes and religious references. Made in Germany during the early Renaissance, it invites questions about the social conditions shaping artistic production and the politics of imagery. What does it mean for an artist to portray himself as the dead Christ? Is he commenting on the suffering of artists? Is he placing himself within a divine tradition, elevating his social position? Considering this drawing within its social and institutional context opens up many possibilities for understanding the public role of art and the artist’s role in society. We can gain further insights from examining the religious, economic, and political structures of the time, as well as other works by Dürer and his contemporaries.